Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Cleveland Browns' Scott Fujita has NFL suspension reduced to one game

Scott Fujita didn't return requests for comment after Tuesday's announcement that his NFL suspension had been reduced to one game for his involvement in the Saints bounty case.
(Photo by Tony Dejak, Associated Press)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns linebacker Scott Fujita received a reduced sentence and a concession from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday in the New Orleans bounty system case.

But it remains unclear whether the 33-year-old Fujita -- one of four players suspended in May -- will accept the league's latest ruling or appeal in an effort to completely clear his name.

The NFL announced Fujita's three-game suspension had been dropped to one game. As part of a statement released by the league, Goodell admitted the linebacker had not contributed to the pay-to-injure program the Saints allegedly ran from 2009-11. However, Goodell also stated he was "surprised and disappointed" that Fujita didn't do more to speak out against it.

Fujita, who played for the Saints from 2006-09, has maintained his innocence throughout the process and called the case against the players a “smear campaign,” which he believes has damaged his reputation. He is a member of the NFL Players Association’s executive committee and a player safety advocate.

A Plain Dealer request seeking comment was not immediately returned by Fujita.

His former teammate, Anthony Hargrove, had his eight-game suspension trimmed to seven games. Jonathan Vilma remains banned for the season, while Will Smith must still sit out four games. The players have 72 hours to appeal Goodell's ruling.

It's believed Fujita could continue to play during an appeal's process. It's hard to imagine he won't pursue his fight against the league.

In a letter to the Browns linebacker, which the league made public, Goodell wrote: "While I have not found that you directly contributed to the bounty pool, there is no serious question that you were aware of the pool and its elements, including that it provided rewards for cart-offs.

"Indeed, Mr. [Jonathan] Vilma testified that Coach [Gregg] Williams brought the program to the team's defensive leaders before the 2009 season and that you supported and endorsed it. Your own comments confirm that players were encouraged to 'crank up the John Deere tractor and cart those guys off' the playing field."

Fujita was the last of the four suspended players to meet with Goodell on Sept. 28 in New York.

"I am surprised and disappointed by the fact that you, a former defensive captain and a passionate advocate for player safety, ignored such a program and permitted it to continue," Goodell wrote. "You made clear to me that participation in the program was voluntary and that other players could have refused to participate, as you claim to have done. If you had spoken up, perhaps other players would have refused to participate and the consequences with which we are now dealing could have been avoided."

The four players originally were suspended in May, but on Sept. 7 a three-member appeals panel vacated Goodell's ruling, sending the case back to him for further consideration. The Browns opened the season two days later and Fujita missed that game because he had been unable to practice that week due to the suspension.

The NFLPA released a statement following the league's announcement on Tuesday.

"For more than six months, the NFL has ignored the facts, abused the process outlined in our collective bargaining agreement and failed to produce evidence that the players intended to injure anyone, ever. ... Truth and fairness have been the casualties of the league's refusal to admit that it might have made a mistake."

If the one-game suspension to Fujita is upheld it will cost him one game check, or $214,705. Vilma is on the Saints' physically unable to perform list and won't play this season. The league stated he can keep the money he has been paid for his six weeks on the PUP list.

Roster move: The Browns waived defensive end Marcus Benard from injured reserve list. He had been placed on waived/injured on Aug. 27. The Browns also cut linebacker Benjamin Jacobs from their practice
squad today. He appeared in five games with the Browns a season ago.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.